Magnetic support for displaying merchandise



p 15, 1964 J. R. HANSEN ETAL MAGNETIC SUPPORT FOR DISPLAYING MERCHANDISE Filed July 3, 1962 2 sheets-Sheet 1 IN VE N TORS JOHN R. HANSEN EDWARD B. BLANC IR NE F. WAGNER ATTORNEY p 15, 1964 J. R. HANSEN ETAL MAGNETIC SUPPORT FOR DISPLAYING maacumoxss 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3, 1962 INVENTORS JOHN R. HANSEN EDWARD B.BLANC IRENE F.W NER EV w A TTORNE V United States Patent SUPPORT FOR DISPLAYING MERCHANDISE John R. Hansen, Spring Lake Heights, Edward B. Blane,

Woodclilf Lake, and Irene F. Wagner, East Orange,

N.J., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Union Carbide Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 3, 1962, Ser. No. 207,275 6 Claims. (Cl. 317-159) This invention relates to a magnetic assembly device, and more particularly to a magnet magnetic support for displaying and supporting packaged car care products, and the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a magnet assembly having in combination means cooperating with the magnet forces to hold and support the product to be displayed.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved magnet assembly having a minimum number of components and one which can be economically manufactured.

The, objects are achieved by the invention which com prises a magnet assembly comprising a pair of pole pieces having a magnet interposed therebetween and a plastic housing surrounding the magnet between the pole pieces. A pivotally mounted impermeable member is secured to the pole pieces and cooperates with the magnetic attractive forces to hold and support a cylindrical packaged car care product, for instance, a spray de-icer for car windows.

In the acompanying drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a magnet assembly embodying the principles of the invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a modification of the magnet assembly shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIG- URE 1, there is shown a magnet assembly 10 having a relatively thin end plate or pole piece 12 on the left side and an identical pole piece 14 on the right side of the assembly 10. These pole pieces 12 and 14 are substantially rectangular in shape and are arranged such that their sides of largest area are parallel with respect to each other. Preferably, the pole pieces 12 and 14 are made from sheet or plate material of low reluctance and high magnetic permeability; suitably a soft iron or a low carbon steel having about .10 percent carbon may be employed for use as pole pieces.

Interposed at right angles between these pole pieces 12 and 14 are two permanent magnets 16 and 18, suitably rectangular in form. The magnets 16 and 18 may be manufactured from permanent magnetic material suitably carbon-free aluminum-nickel-cobalt-steel alloys, commerically referred to as Alnico. This type of material is desirable because of its high retentivity, high magnetic field intensity and high magnetizing force. These magnets 16 and 18 are magnetized in the direction of their smallest cross-sectional area (axial) and are arranged in a mannet to produce poles indicated by N and S and magnetic lines of flux (dotted) as shown in FIGURE 1.

The pole pieces 12 and 14 are secured flush to the opposite end faces of the magnets 16 and 18 by means of two suitable non-magnetic fasteners 20 and 22 such as brass rivets. A shunt 24 may be suitably interposed between the magnets 16 and 18 and the pole pieces 12 and 14. The shunt 24 is fabricated from the same material as the pole pieces 12 and 14 and it functions by controlling and minimizing the magnetic flux leakage. If the shunt 24 is utilized, an insulator 26 is then preferably disposed between the pole pieces 12 and 14 and the end faces of the shunt 24.

A housing 28 is preferably fabricated from a plastic MAGNETIC 3,149,268 Patented Sept. 15, 1964 composition and molded to surround and follow the con-- tours of the shunt, magnets and fasteners. The housing 28is of lightweight construction and is provided with a plurality of external fins or ribs 30. The ribs 30 strengthen the structure of the housing 28 and effect substantial weight and cost savings.

Suitably, a pivot pin 32 is provided at the lower end 34 of the magnet assembly 10. The pin 32 should also be magnetically impermeable and may be in form and shape like the fasteners hereinbefore described. An auxiliary supporting member or bracket 36 is mounted to the pin 32 and is adapted to pivot or rotate about the pin 32. As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the bracket 36 aids the magnetic forces in displaying and supporting a magnetic package 38, suitably cylindrical in shape and shown in phantom lines.

The bracket 36 is particularly useful when the magnet assembly 10 is used in an area where vibrations and shocks are frequently encountered. When the magnet assembly 10 is not in use, or when it is to be used for other applications, the bracket 36 can be rotated back between the pole pieces 12 and 14 and against the housing 28. The bracket 36 may be made from non-magnetic stainless steels or from a lightweight non-ferrous material such as aluminum.

By this construction, the far or back edges 39 and 40 of the pole pieces 12 and 14 function by retaining and holding the entire magnet assembly 10 to a ferromagnetic surface 42 such as a gasoline pump or the like. The near or front edges 44 and 46 of the pole pieces 12 and 14 function by retaining and holding in cooperation with the supporting bracket 36 the magnetic package 38.

In FIGURE 2 a modification of the magnet assembly just described is shown. In the magnet assembly 10 illustrated, a hook 52 is pivotably mounted to the pole pieces 12 and 14. The book 52 functions in the same manner as the bracket 36 of FIGURE 1 in that it pivots outwardly to hook or engage a lower lip or bead circumscribing the peripheral edge of a conventional cylindrical packaged product. Thus, the hook or the bracket 36 of FIGURE 1 holds the packaged product securely and precludes it from sliding downwardly on the pole pieces 12 and 14 when the magnet assembly 10 is employed in an environment having numerous vibrations.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination in a permanent magnet assembly device, comprising a plurality of pole pieces arranged in parallel with respect to their sides of largest area, at least one permanent magnet interposed between said pole pieces to polarize said pole pieces,- non-magnetic means for compressing said pole pieces towards each other and against said magnet, a housing surrounding said magnet and said non-magnetic means between said pole pieces, a non-magnetic pin disposed between and secured to said pole pieces near one pair of their ends, and a nonmagnetic member pivotably mounted to said pin; said member working in cooperation with the magnetic forces of said assembly to support and hold a displayable product.

2. The magnet assembly of claim 1 wherein said pole pieces are substantially rectangular in shape and relatively thin with respect to the overall width of said magnet assembly.

3. In combination in a permanent magnet assembly device, comprising two relatively thin pole pieces arranged in parallel with respect to their sides of largest area, two permanent magnets interposed between said pole pieces to polarize said pole pieces, at least one shunt disposed between said magnets to control and minimize magnetic flux leakage, a pair of insulators interposed between said shunt and said pole pieces, non-magnetic shunt, a housing surrounding said magnets, shunt, in-

sulators and said non-magnetic means between said pole pieces, a non-magnetic pin disposed between and secured to said pole pieces near one pair of their ends, and a non-magnetic bracket pivotably mounted to said pin; said bracket working in cooperation with the magnetic forces of said assembly to support and hold a magnetic displayable product.

, 4. The magnet assembly of claim 3 wherein said bracket is generally L shaped in cross-sectional'area.

5. The magnet assembly of claim 4 wherein said bracket is made of aluminum.

6. In combination in a permanent magnet assembly device, comprising two relatively thin pole pieces arranged in parallel with respect to their sides of largest area, two permanent magnets interposed between said pole pieces to polarize said pole pieces, at least one shunt disposed between said magnets to control and minimize 2O magnetic flux leakage, a pair of insulators interposed between said shunt and said pole pieces, non-magnetic means for compressing said pole pieces towards each other and against said magnets, said insulators and said shunt, a housing surrounding said magnets, shunt, insulators, and said non-magnetic means between said pole pieces, a non-magnetic pin disposed between and secured to said pole pieces near one pair of their ends, and a nonmagnetic hook pivotably mounted to said pin; said hook working in cooperation with the magnetic forces of said assembly to support and hold a magnetic displayable product. I

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,321,570 Billing June 15, 1943 2,50 ,400 Wietz May 2, 1950 2,553,668 Morello May 22, 1951 2,844,291 McPheeters July 22, 1958 2,960,237 McEnery Nov. 15, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 755,351 Great Britain Aug. 22, 1956 UNITED: STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0. $149,268

September 15 1964 John R. Hansen et all It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent n=. .1iring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as. corrected below.

Column l line l2 strike out magnet"; line 17, for "magnet" read magnetic --Q Signed and sealed this 12th day of January 1965.

( SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W- SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Altesting; Officer Commissioner of Patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0. 3,149,268 September 15,, 1964 John R., Hansen et a1,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent req'iiring' correction and that the said Letters Patentshould read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 12, strike out "magnet"; line 17 for "magnet" read magnetic Signed and sealed this 12th day of January 1965 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W- SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN COMBINATION IN A PERMANENT MAGNET ASSEMBLY DEVICE, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF POLE PIECES ARRANGED IN PARALLEL WITH RESPECT TO THEIR SIDES OF LARGEST AREA, AT LEAST ONE PERMANENT MAGNET INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID POLE PIECES TO POLARIZE SAID POLE PIECES, NON-MAGNETIC MEANS FOR COMPRESSING SAID POLE PIECES TOWARDS EACH OTHER AND AGAINST SAID MAGNET, A HOUSING SURROUNDING SAID MAGNET AND SAID NON-MAGNETIC MEANS BETWEEN SAID POLE PIECES, A NON-MAGNETIC PIN DISPOSED BETWEEN AND SECURED TO SAID POLE PIECES NEAR ONE PAIR OF THEIR ENDS, AND A NONMAGNETIC MEMBER PIVOTABLY MOUNTED TO SAID PIN; SAID MEMBER WORKING IN COOPERATION WITH THE MAGNETIC FORCES OF SAID ASSEMBLY TO SUPPORT AND HOLD A DISPLAYABLE PRODUCT. 